Thirteen anti-occupation activists were awoken by police officers early Sunday morning to
receive closed military zone orders, preventing them from joining Palestinians in weekly
demonstrations in the West Bank. ---- Israeli police officers distributed closed military
zone orders for four West Bank villages early Sunday morning to 13 prominent activists in
groups such as Anarchists Against the Wall, Ta’ayush, and the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity
Movement. In most cases, the military orders were delivered personally, but for some
activists who happened not to be home, they were left under their doors. In some cases,
the officers came to look for the activists in their old addresses, disturbing family
members and friends, entering homes without a court order, and videotaping those present
against their will, even after they were requested not to do so.

The orders, which are timed from 8:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Friday, and are valid from the
beginning of September until March 4, define all or part of the villages of Bil’in,
Nil’in, Nabi Saleh, and Kufr Qaddum as closed military zones, prohibiting any entrance
into those areas. These are four of several villages in which Palestinians hold weekly
demonstrations against the wall, joined regularly by Israeli and international activists.

The weekly demonstrations are deemed illegal under Israeli military law, much like any
form of protest or demonstration in the West Bank. In fact, every Friday, the Israeli
military issues orders defining those very villages as closed military zones. The
demonstrations are violently dispersed by the Israeli army and police with tear gas, stun
grenades, rubber bullets and live ammunition. The military’s violence has led to the death
of 28 activists, and the wounding of countless others. Palestinian organizers and
participants in those protests face ongoing persecution, including night raids on their
homes, and long periods in prison, sometimes under administrative detention.

While Israeli demonstrators are often arrested, charges are usually not brought against
them, and when they are, they rarely lead to conviction. It seems that this is what this
latest operation seeks to circumvent. In a statement published on the INN website, a
police representative of the Shai District (which oversees activities in the West Bank)
stated [Hebrew]: “The orders… were distributed to them personally as part of an offensive
action led by a commander in the area. It is being implemented in order to prevent illegal
activities under the pretense of lack of awareness that the locations are closed military
zones. This operation is part of the day to day activities of the Shai District against
those who disrupt public order with nationalist motives from all sides of the political
map (be it from the left or from the right).”

The police’s operation seems to be another attempt to sever the bonds between Palestinians
and Israelis who take part in acts of popular resistance which challenge institutional
policies of separation and segregation. However, those orders are unlikely to deter most
activists who join the Palestinians in protest on a weekly basis.

These orders are unlikely to deter most activists who join the Palestinians in protest on
a weekly basis, facing tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets, but it should serve as
a call for action for those who don't. Come to Bilin, Nilin, Nabi Saleh and Qaddoum this
Friday!"

SJ District Police explain that restraining orders were not issued for the anarchists.
However, these were injunctions for the number of closed military area points of friction.

SJ District clarify this evening (Sunday) morning that contrary to reports, no restraining
orders were issued to extreme left activists, and anarchists.

District spokesman, David Assaraf, told Channel 7 that morning was the SJ District
activities during which orders were issued declaring the areas as closed military zones
(Prohibition of entry and staying in) four points of friction - Bil'in, Ni'lin, Nabi Saleh
and Qaddum.

"These places left-wing protesters, anarchists and Palestinians regularly, create
Provocations and breaking the law," said Assaraf and noted that the validity of the order
is for six months until 18/03/2013 to Fridays between the hours of 8:00 to 19:00.

The police made it clear that the order, signed by the commander of Central Command, Gen.
Nitzan Alon, prohibits any person to enter these areas, "orders were issued to 16
left-wing activists that operate illegally every Friday and delivered them personally as
part of a deliberate offensive action of the regional commander, in order to avoid
excusing illegal activities on a lack of knowledge that places are closed military zones."

"Importantly," district spokesman explained, "that this activity is part of the daily
operations of the SJ District, against the perpetrators of disturbances for nationalistic
reasons either side (either right or whether the left)."

Distribution of the orders passed without incident and currently unknown intentions to DOP
disturbances) due to this activity.
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* Such order was issued regarding Bil'in about three years ago without any influence on
both the activists and the level of repression towards us.